Kamal Haasan launches his new political party- Makkal Needhi Maiam, means People are the center of justice, calls for unity in a massive rally

Kamal Haasan launches his new political party- Makkal Needhi Maiam, means People are the center of justice, calls for unity in a massive rally

Chennai: Haasan, 63, who repeatedly spoke about the need for change in the state, also pushed for unity of the South Indian states.

“Have you seen my (party’s) flag and symbol? It has the map of new South India. Those six hands represent the six southern states. The star in the middle with six pointers represent truth, people and justice,” Haasan said to huge applause.

Addressing a gathering of over 15,000 people, who had come from various parts of Tamil Nadu, Haasan said he has no ‘isms’ in mind but the welfare of people.

People of Tamil Nadu ready to throw out DMK, AIADMK: Arvind Kejriwal on Kamal Haasan’s party launch Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal joins Kamal Haasan for the launch of his party (Source: @maiamofficial)

Pushing for ideas to improve the service sectors and essential services for people, Haasan said his guilt feeling also had a role to play in his political journey. He said, “I never used to act for free. You paid money to watch the films I acted in, and that became my salary. But what did I do in return?…. That is why a feeling of guilt started (taking shape inside). I decided to live for you – hereon. That is why I am in hurry (and) I decided to launch a political party and see it before my time ends,” he said.

Haasan said he is not a leader but a worker – a coordinator who serves people. “I feel we can do a lot to get everyone a good education…equal education for everyone of the best standard. That is why I said we need to start the work here. Those who are playing politics in the name of caste and religion, I say to them: stop it. Otherwise we will do it (stop politics of hate)…and we will become the model (while doing that), leading the way.”

Haasan said his plans to adopt eight villages in Tamil Nadu in the initial stage was a decision to begin that service for the people.

Without naming any party, he took on political outfits that bribe voters: “If you had voted for the right party, you would have got Rs 6 lakh every year instead of Rs 6,000 for your vote once in five years.”

Most people projected as leaders of the new party are unknown faces – many of them running Kamal Haasan fans’ associations in districts; a few lawyers, and a retired police officer.

Late President A P J Abdul Kalam’s close relatives, who had announced their decision to join the new party, praised the actor-politician for beginning his political journey from Rameswaram, Kalam’s native place.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who failed to attend the rally, sent a video message, partially in Tamil.. “He is very dear to me and the people of Kerala,” Vijayan said in the video. Calling Haasan a unifying link between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, he said the new party will enrich Kerala too in its fight to uphold secularism, socialism and a pluralistic society.

Beginning his speech with “Vanakkam (greetings)”, Kejriwal praised Haasan for his statements against communal forces, and took on the Congress and both big Dravidian parties: the DMK and the AIADMK. Calling both parties corrupt, Kejriwal said, “When you cast your votes next, give it to Kamal Haasan, defeat both AIADMK and DMK.”

He appealed the people of Tamil Nadu to defeat both Dravidian parties, like the people in Delhi defeated both Congress and the BJP to elect AAP. “People of Tamil Nadu should break the record of people in Delhi by electing an alternative political party led by Kamal Haasan…. If you have an honest government, everything is possible. Delhi is witnessing a complete transformation in education, health, power and many such essential sectors,” he said.

Haasan started his roadshow from Rameswaram on Wednesday morning and had at least three public meetings on way to Madurai. His speeches lasted less than five minutes at those meetings. After visiting late President Kalam’s elder brother Mohammed Muthu Meera Lebbai Maraicker in the morning, Haasan said Kalam lived in a simple house “but see the national spirit the man had – something we all should learn from him.”

Haasan’s plans to interact with students of a school where Kalam studied was cancelled due to opposition from the state School Education Department.

At Rameswaram, Haasan revealed that he had spoken on the phone with Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday night. “He told me to prepare a list of things to do for the people beyond policies. He said that itself will lead (the party) to victory.”

Related Posts

About Admin

His interest in knowing people, places inspired him to join media and journalism as well as his thrust to knowing the unknown took him to experience the mystic world of Osho which was culminated into initiation by Oshodhara Sadguru Trivir in 2006 when he was renamed as Swami Satchidanand. IPS Yadav has been active journalist, writer, editor, content developer, designer, PR Consultant for more than two decades. He has authored thousands of news articles, stories of common people and celebrity interviews to his credit, published in several leading dailies, web portals and You Tube channels.